February 28th 2024.
Professional basketball player Shaquille O'Neal has made a significant impact on the life of a young boy who happens to wear a shoe size that is hard to come by - a size 23. The kind-hearted Shaq came to the rescue of the teenager after his family created a GoFundMe account to help him get custom-made shoes.
Jor'el Bolden, a teenager from Kansas City, was over the moon when he received a surprise call from Shaq himself, after his mother Tamika Neal set up a fundraiser to get him the right footwear for his large feet. Shaq, who had been made aware of Bolden's struggle, made a FaceTime call to the teenager to personally show his support.
Being blessed with big feet comes with its own set of challenges, especially when most brands do not make shoes in sizes that large for the average consumer. Tamika Neal shared that she had to constantly search for specially made shoes that would not cause discomfort to her son's feet. That's why she took the initiative to start a GoFundMe campaign, writing:
"Hi, my name is Tamika and I am a single mother to my gentle giant of a son - who stands tall at 6'5" and weighs 380 lbs. I used to joke about creating a GoFundMe page to help him with his shoe needs, but never did I imagine that it would actually come to fruition. The first time I mentioned it, he wore a size 17 shoe. That was a year ago. But now, at 16 years old, my son Jor'el wears a size 23 shoe.
This size is incredibly hard to find, as most commercial shoe sizes only go up to a size 22. However, I have been in touch with some people who can custom-make shoes for him, but they are asking for $1500 for one pair. And since my son is still growing, I thought it would be wise to get two pairs."
After the news of the campaign and Bolden's situation spread, Tamika shared that Entertainment Tonight contacted her to let her know that "someone special wants to talk to you." And that someone special turned out to be none other than Shaq himself, who had a heartwarming conversation with Bolden. And just a week later, three large boxes arrived at their doorstep.
Shaq had generously gifted him with new clothes, shoes, and some items from his own closet - as he happens to wear size 22 shoes himself. One of the boxes even had around 20 pairs of shoes that Shaq had once worn. But the highlight of Bolden's gifts was Shaq's Papa John's shirt, which he had worn in several commercials.
"These gifts are a big help for now," said Tamika, "but my son will eventually need bigger shoes, and that's what this money is for." The GoFundMe page is still active and has received over $12,000, surpassing the initial goal of $9,500.
Thanks to Shaq's kindness and generosity, Jor'el Bolden can now walk comfortably in his custom-made shoes and continue to pursue his dreams. The heartwarming story is a reminder of the power of compassion and how a small act of kindness can make a big difference in someone's life.
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